Discrimination and the Australian Defence Force

Ben Schokman

Human Rights

The Australian government has announced six investigations into the Australian Defence Force's 'culture', many of which are to focus on the treatment of and opportunities available to women, following the allegedly inappropriate handling by the Australian Defence Force ('ADF') Academy of a complaint made by a female cadet in relation to the broadcast of her sexual encounter with a fellow cadet over Skype. Meanwhile, there are allegations that the ADF has failed to properly investigate or prosecute serving members linked to an online social media campaign that publicly named and vilified homosexual personnel. Finally, it appears women will be allowed to serve in frontline combat roles after the Gillard government ordered the ADF to remove bans that have stopped women from applying for the most dangerous and demanding military jobs.

BEN SCHOKMAN is Director of International Human Rights Advocacy with the Human Rights Law Centre.